Ainsworth, J. C. (John Commingers), 1822-1893

John Commigers Ainsworth (1822-1893), president of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company.

John Commingers Ainsworth was born in Springsboro, Ohio on June 6, 1822. His parents died when he was young and after two years of formal schooling he went to work for his uncle, a merchant, selling trade goods from boats along the Ohio River. Soon Ainsworth split from his uncle and bought a store with a partner, which they sold for a profit after a successful year. In 1844 Ainsworth bought a steamboat with his uncle and for the next five years ran a successful packet service along the upper Mississippi. In 1849 when the Gold Rush began, Ainsworth went to California. He took a job piloting a steamer on the Willamette River in Oregon. In 1851 he married the daughter of Judge S.S. White, and built his Greek Revival-style house in Oregon City. Over the next few years Ainsworth purchased several steam boats and became a central figure in the competititve river transportation industry. In late 1860, Ainsworth and a group of investors incorporated the Oregon Steam Navigation (OSN) Company. The OSN Company controlled the shipping routes of steamers, railroads, and freight lines, and under Ainsworth's direction, quickly became the most powerful transportation monopoly in the Pacific Northwest. In April 1879, Henry Villard purchased the OSN Company for 5 million dollars and Ainsworth retired to Oak Lawn, California after the sale. Ainsworth died in California in December 1893.

John Commingers Ainsworth was born in Springsboro, Ohio on June 6, 1822. His parents died when he was young, and with only two years of formal schooling he went to work for his uncle, a merchant. They became partners in a business selling trade goods from boats along the Ohio River, but soon young Ainsworth split from his uncle and bought a store with a partner, which they sold at a good profit after a successful year. He married a young woman, Josephine Augusta Kendall, who died fifteen months later. Ainsworth was not yet twenty.

In 1844 he bought a steamboat with his uncle and for the next five years they ran a successful packet service along the upper Mississippi. When the Gold Rush hit in 1849, Ainsworth sold his share of the business and went to California. Failing to find wealth or even interesting work, he took a job piloting a steamer on the Willamette River in Oregon. In 1851 he married the daughter of Judge S.S. White, and built his Greek Revival-style house in Oregon City (it is open to the public and listed in the National Register of Historic Places). Over the next few years Ainsworth purchased several steam boats, becoming a central figure in the fiercely competitive river transportation industry.

In late 1860, Ainsworth and a group of investors incorporated the Oregon Steam Navigation (OSN) Company. The OSN Company controlled the shipping routes of steamers, railroads, and freight lines, and under Ainsworth’s direction, quickly became the most powerful transportation monopoly in the Pacific Northwest. By 1869 the OSN Company had consolidated its control over the Columbia River transportation market. In 1872, Ainsworth bartered a controlling interest in OSN to Northern Pacific Railroad (NPRR) in exchange for capital and NPRR bonds. When NPRR bonds dropped from $0.90 to $0.10, Ainsworth involved himself in the company’s affairs, traveling to the East Coast and helping oversee the completion of their railroad. In April 1879, Henry Villard purchased the OSN Company for its full capitalized value of $5 million. Ainsworth retired to Oak Lawn, California after the sale.

While in Oregon Ainsworth had become a Freemason, and eventually the third Grand Master of the Oregon Masonic Lodge. After retiring to California he wrote his autobiography, addressing it to his children George, John, Harry and Daisy. Ainsworth died in California in December 1893.